Five Key Matchups: Broncos vs. Cowboys

Make no mistake, wide receiver Dez Bryant will be looking to throw up the 'X' on Sunday at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. After every touchdown, Bryant crosses his arms, and he'll certainly do the same if he gets into Denver's end zone. But for as celebrated as the 'X' is in Dallas, the "No-Fly Zone" signal is equally as revered in Denver — and Aqib Talib will be looking to show off the move on Sunday. If Talib and the Broncos' defense can keep Bryant out of the end zone, then the Cowboys will have a harder time challenging Denver. The teams' young quarterbacks may take up many of the headlines after Sunday's game, but make no mistake: The game may be decided by these two veterans. And they'll likely let each other hear it, too. Both players are about as vocal as they come. On Sunday, the football should be only part of the entertainment.

Brandon Marshall racked up a team-leading eight tackles in Week 1 vs. the Chargers, and he'll likely need to match that output for the Broncos to have a shot against Ezekiel Elliott and the Cowboys. The second-year running back picked up in Week 1 where he left off after his 1,600-yard rookie season. Against the Giants in Week 1, Elliott totaled 104 yards on 24 carries and added five receptions for 36 yards. If the Broncos are to win this weekend, Marshall and the rest of the linebackers will need to fill their gaps and bring Elliott to the ground. If Elliott starts to rip off big runs, the Broncos' defense could be in for a long afternoon.

Emmanuel Sanders could be in for a big day. He recorded just three receptions for 26 yards in the Broncos' opener as the Chargers schemed to take him and Demaryius Thomas out of the game, but that could change in Week 2. For starters, the production from the tight ends and Bennie Fowler III could force the Cowboys to pay a little less attention to Sanders and Thomas on the outside. Second, the defensive backfield for the Cowboys is facing injury concerns as Sunday approaches. Orlando Scandrick underwent hand surgery Monday and was ruled out for the game. Reserve rookie cornerbacks Chidobe Awuzie and Jourdan Lewis are also battling injuries but practiced in full during the leadup to the game. The rookie cornerbacks will be forced to face off against the likes of Sanders and Thomas, and that could mean an advantage for the Broncos.

When Defensive Coordinator Joe Woods looks back at Justin Simmons' first start of the young season, he sees a lot of promise. "I thought he did a solid job," Woods said Thursday. "He made a few mistakes during the course of the game, stuff that we can easily fix. But overall, I thought it was a solid performance for his first game of the season." Against the Cowboys, the challenge only gets tougher for Simmons. A week after the Broncos largely nullified the Chargers' tight ends, Simmons must deal with future Hall of Famer Jason Witten. Simmons knows plenty about the 15-year pro; Simmons' dad was a Cowboys fan and watched plenty of the team's game with his son. On Sunday, though, Simmons' dad will be firmly in the Broncos camp, and he'll be watching his son guard a player who is quarterback Dak Prescott's safety net at times. If Simmons can take that away, the Broncos' chances of winning will shoot up.

After a tough first challenge for the Broncos' offensive line, Menelik Watson and Co. will look to rebound against the Cowboys. While the Broncos were extremely successful in the run game, Head Coach Vance Joseph said the pass protection has to be better. Quarterback Trevor Siemian was sacked four times and hit a handful of others. If the Broncos can keep a clean pocket, though, they'll be set up to have success against the Cowboys. At right tackle, Watson will have to deal with DeMarcus Lawrence and Tyrone Crawford. And while Crawford has established himself as a consistent rusher, Lawrence may have more potential. In short, Lawrence is extremely capable of disrupting an offense.